High temperature batteries

Abstract

The use of aqueous electrolytes limits the number of materials which can be considered as electrodes for galvanic cells and effectively rules out the use of high energy couples. If operating temperatures higher than ambient are permissible, molten salt electrolytes and solid electrolytes can be used, allowing a much wider choice of galvanic couples to be considered. There are a number of applications requiring batteries which are large and intensively used and thus able to maintain their operating temperature without external heating. The most important are load levelling in the electricity supply industry and vehicle propulsion. High temperature batteries are being developed for both applications.